The Supreme Court issues notice on a plea seeking unrestricted ban on pornography and chemical castration to prevent women's crimes
The Supreme Court of India had issued a notice on December 16, 2024, to respond to the petition demanding pan-India safety measures for the protection of women against violence and exploitation. This was after Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association's petition, which seeks to provide severe guidelines that may guarantee security for women to avoid atrocities such as rape and other sexual abuse cases.
This plea cited several tragic incidents, ranging from the Nirbhaya case of gang rape that had taken place in 2012 to the recent incident at RG Kar rape and murder case, as grounds for urgent legal intervention. This petition demands the implementation of vigorous measures, including a nationwide ban on unrestricted online pornography said to fuel sexual crimes, and chemical castration of those convicted of sexual offenses against women. The plea also calls for the refusal of bail to individuals accused of heinous crimes against women until trial, ensuring they cannot harm other victims.
In addition to these measures, the petition emphasizes that more safety protocols need to be put in place within the public and workplace arenas. These include the installation of CCTV cameras, the availability of security personnel, and 24/7 helplines being made available at all workplaces. Fast-track courts for crimes against women and guidelines on desirable behavior within public transport systems like Uber and Ola need to be put in place to ensure safer travel by women.
The petition is in consonance with the previous initiatives taken by the Supreme Court to strengthen women's rights and safety. In the first week of December, the Court ordered employers and local authorities to strictly implement the POSH guidelines, which includes setting up Internal Complaints Committees in government departments and public sector undertakings. The Court also directed to set up local complaints committees (LCCs) at district levels, so that the complaints were dealt with expeditiously. The SheBox portal is going to be an important facilitator in this regard, which enables women to file their complaints of sexual harassment.
Also read: Zakir Hussain (1951-2024): In Memoriam of the Tabla Maestro in Images
